ONLY two and a half years after Torquay United's Youth scheme was resurrected, the young Gulls have a chance to pull off one of the competition's major shocks when they meet Norwich City in the Second Round of the FA Youth Cup at Plainmoor tonight (7.30pm).

By rights United's team of trainees, Paignton College students and one just-signed rookie pro, winger Saul Halpin, should have little chance against a Canaries side which is riding high in the Premier Academy League.

But United's youth manager Matt Williams says: "Although there's no pressure on our lads at all, they believe they can win."

It was for evenings like this, and the sort of promotion which Halpin has just earned, that United relaunched the much-missed Youth scheme which had been closed in 2004.

The current squad is already competing well in the Football League Alliance, with several players hoping to follow Halpin and earn a pro contract at the end of the season.

But Norwich, with a well-established and ambitious set-up, are only three points behind leaders Arsenal in Group A of the PAL.

Williams stressed: "We are up against a top side, and there's no expectation on us to win.

"We have not put the lads under any pressure whatsoever — we just want them to produce a performance and enjoy the occasion.

"But that hasn't stopped them believing that they can upset Norwich."

The majority of United's availability problems have cleared up.

Striker Ray Spear served his one-match suspension in a 2-0 league defeat at Swindon Town last Saturday.

Midfielder Scott Taylor has recovered from an ankle injury.

Now defender Nick Milton is back in contention after nearly a month out with knee trouble. Milton trained yesterday and will have a fitness-test at teatime.

The winners have already been drawn at home in Round Three, to the winners of last night's Millwall-v-Oxford United tie.

Admission has been set at £3 for adults and £1 for Under-16s.

TONIGHT'S SQUAD

United's squad is: Mike Searle; Richard Westcott, Nick Milton, Ryan Beattie, Ed Palmer, Rob Hemming, Joe Parish, Ashley Yeoman, Ray Spear, Scott Taylor, Saul Halpin, Joe Fletcher, Aiden Mackin, Aaron Kudi, Sam Barnett (gk), Jimmy Holland, Fraser Clark.

THE Football Association has told Torquay United that a decision on defender Kieran Charnock's appeal against his red card against Shrewsbury last Saturday will be given tomorrow.